Updating Your WordPress Site From Smartphone

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WordPress is a popular platform when it comes to blog. However, just because a website uses WordPress that does not mean it is a blog. WordPress is a Content Management System just like Drupal or Joomla.

WordPress users typically tend to update their website via desktop browsers. However, today everyone seems to be “on the go”, ad-hoc posting can be very valuable to engage readers and remain timely. While there are mobile-friendly themes like WPtouch, users should explore the range of options available to them before committing to a strategy for mobile updating.

Rather than needing to log into your account through a browser every time, you might want to consider installing a free, dedicated WordPress app. Available for both Android and iOS, this simplifies the management of both hosted blogs and ones created with WordPress.com.

1. WordPress for iOS

Taking into consideration the most important elements for managing a WordPress blog, the app focuses on four sections: View, Publish, Configuration and Admin.

  • View: In this section, users can see the website and examine key statistics. If analyzing a self-hosted blog, the statistics can only be seen if the JetPack plugin is installed, linked and configured.
  • Publish: If you want to add posts and/or pages to your blog, this is the place to do it. You can customize text formatting, integrate hyperlinks as they’ll appear on the blog, or switch to HTML to gain complete control over the post. Photos and other media can also be uploaded here however the iOS version does not give you access to your existing WordPress media library. Assign categories and tags by selecting the Settings button at the top of the page or post. You can also schedule posts for the future, select Post Format and assign a featured image.
  • Configuration: If you are on the go, don’t forget to publish your location. In the Settings section in Configuration, you can geotag your posts by flipping a switch. You can also configure what statistics you want collected from JetPack in this section.
  • Admin: Should you need to perform tasks not possible with the app, the Admin button takes you to the administration page of your blog via Web browser for full access.

2. WordPress for Android

Perhaps the more simplified mobile experience is created for Android users. This app is organized similarly to your WordPress dashboard: the slide-in menu appears in the left delivering access to pages, posts, comments, site viewers, stats and your media library. This allows you to add and manage photos that you have previously uploaded to posts directly from your phone. Eliminating the need to familiarize with an entirely new interface, you can rest assured you can jump into managing your blog without a learning curve.

Due to the limited functionality within the mobile apps, it may not be the perfect solution for every task. It is important to note that desktop access may still be necessary to fully administer your WordPress blog, like accessing plugins. If posting and updating on the move is important for you and your mission, then take the time to integrate the right mobile editing strategy for your needs.